Nigeria, Netherlands Seal Customs Pact to Boost Trade, Fight Cross-Border Crime

Nigeria, Netherlands Seal Customs Pact to Boost Trade, Fight Cross-Border Crime

Nigeria and the Kingdom of the Netherlands have signed a landmark customs cooperation agreement aimed at strengthening trade facilitation, border security and the fight against transnational organised crime.

The Joint Declaration was signed in Brussels by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, and the Director-General of Netherlands Customs, Nanette van Schelven, following months of bilateral engagements between both customs administrations.

The agreement seeks to deepen collaboration in intelligence sharing, customs modernisation, compliance management, risk assessment, cargo clearance systems, capacity development and enforcement operations.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Adeniyi described the pact as a major milestone in Nigeria’s international customs cooperation drive, noting that enhanced collaboration would strengthen intelligence gathering, improve enforcement effectiveness and secure international supply chains while facilitating legitimate trade.

He said the partnership reflects the growing relationship between both customs administrations and their shared commitment to addressing emerging border management and trade challenges.

On her part, Van Schelven said closer cooperation had become imperative in an increasingly interconnected global trading environment, stressing that both countries face similar challenges in combating transnational organised crime and illicit trade.

The declaration also highlights concerns over the trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, counterfeit goods, wildlife products and illegal weapons, emphasizing the need for coordinated international responses.

Under the agreement, both countries will promote knowledge exchange, training, technical cooperation and the development of structured frameworks to improve border efficiency, supply chain security and fair trade practices.

The development follows a series of high-level engagements, including a working visit by Nigeria Customs officials to the Netherlands in October 2025 and a return visit by Dutch Customs officials to Nigeria in March 2026.

The statement was signed by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs.